Driving mechanism for slicing machines



Feb. 10, 1931. J. VAN HOORN ,v 39 5 DRIVING MECHANISM FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Jah. 26. 1928 I 55 /5 jZUKZOT-i J ie z/a/z JY OWZ 9%: 7M

Patented F eb. 10, 1931 UNITE STATES PATENT.

V'FFI'CE :IEIZE VAN noonN, or voonnnne, NETHERLANDS, AssIeNon' TO U; s. SLIGING MACHINE COMPANY, or LA ronrn, INDIANA, A GORPO BATIONIOF INDIANA DRIVING MECHANISM non sLIcI e MAGHiNES Application filed January 26, 1928, Serial No. 249,652 and in Germany January 28, 1927.

This invention relates to machines for sliclng meat and other commodities such as disclosed in the application of C. F. M. van Berkel, Serial No. 229,342, filed October 28,1927, 7 for driving mechanism for slicing machines,

andhas for its object the provision of driving mechanism for such machines 1n which different portions of the slicing machlne may be operated independently of other portions;

More specifically the object of the invention is to provide a slicing machine in which the rotary knife and reciprocating table can be separately uncoupled from the driving.

mechanism by a single operating handle.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the following description.

The invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a slicing machine having one embodiment of the present invention applied thereto; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of the releasable clutch for operating the reciprocating table.

In slicing machines having rotary slicing knives and reciprocating tables it is frequently desirable to be able to rotate the knife while the table remains stationary. This enables the operator to conveniently sharpen the knife or clean the'same while the table is positioned at one side of the knife where the surface of the table or material deposited thereon will not be soiled by particles dropping from the sharpening or cleaning device. Again it is frequently desirable to reciprocate the table while the knife remains stationary. This is especially advantageous in slicing materials, such as cheese, which would tend to smear and break if the knife were rotated while the material is being sliced.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a base having guides 11 thereon for supportinga reciprocating table 12. A hand .to'the shaftl? adjacent the hub of the gear 16 and the collar24 andhub of the gear are preferably of the same diameter. :A'helical spring 25, surrounds the collar and hub and one end of the spring is attached at 26 tothe' collar 24. The opposite end o'f the spring is attached at 27 to a ratchetwhee'l 28 freely rotatable on the hubjof the gear 16. A pin 29 is disposed adjacent the ratchet wheel 28 in position to engage the ratchet teeth thereon.

The pin is normally held out of contact with the ratchet teeth by a spring 30 but maybe moved'into engagementwith the teeth by a cam lug'81 on an operating bar 32 slidably mounted beneath the table 10. The bar 82 is provided witha knob33 and notches 34., 35'

and 36 for holding the bar in different adjusted positions longitudinally thereof. 7

When the parts are in the position shown in the drawing,rotation of the hand. wheel will be transmitted to-the gear 16 and the frictional contact ofythe spring 25 with the hub of the gear 16 and the collar 24;will transmit the movement to the shaft 17, which will be rotated to reciprocate the table 12. If.

the knob '33 is pressed inwardly until the notch 35 takes the position of the notch 34 in Fig. 1, the cam lug 31 will engage the end of the pin 29 and force the pin into engagement with the ratchet Wheel 28. This will hold the ratchet wheel against rotation so that the spring 25 will be expanded and the grip of the spring upon the hub of the gear 16 will be released. The gear will now be free to rotate upon the shaft 17 so that the shaft'will no longer be driven by the gear. The gear will continue to drive the pinion 20 and shaft 21, however, so that the knife 23 will continue to rotate, thus permitting the cleaning or sharpening of the knife while the table 12 remains stationary.

A spring clutch 37 similar to that for operating the shaft 17 is interposed between the shaft 20 and the sprocket wheel 22. This clutch 37 is provided with a ratchet wheel 38. VJhen'the knob 33 is pushed inwardly until the notch 36 assumes the position of thenotch 34: in Fig. 1, the cam lug31 will be moved past the pin 29 so that the ratchet wheel 28' will be released and the driving connection restored between the gear lfiand the table 12. In this position of the knob 33 the end of the rod 32, however, will engage the ratchet wheel 38 and release the clutch which transmits the-rotation to the knife23. Inthis position the knife will be permitted to remain stationary while the table continues to reciprocate. It is thus seen that either the table or the knife may be operated while the other remains stationary and that the clutches may be adjusted to release either the table or the knife while the hand wheel 13 is being rotated.

It will be apparent that various changes in the construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Iclaim: 1

1. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a carriage for feeding material to said knife, a drive for saidknife and carriage, separate' clutches interposed between said knife and carriage respectively, and a single control member for separately operating said clutches.

2. A slicing machine comprising a slicing January,

knife, a carriage for feeding material to said knife, a drive for said knife and carriage, separate clutches for connecting said drive with said knife and carriage respectively, and a control member for said clutches, said control member being arranged to operate said clutches successively when movedin one direction. y

3. Aslicing machine comprising a rotary slicing knife, a reciprocating carriage for feeding material to said knife, a shaft for driving said knife and carriage, separate clutch devices for connecting said knife and carriage respectivelywith said shaft, and a push rod arranged to disconnect said clutches successively when moved in one direction.

l. A slicing machine comprising a rotary slicing knife, a reciprocating carriage for presenting material to said knife to be sliced, driving mechanism for operating said knife and carriage, clutches interposed. between said driving mechanism and said knife and carriage respectively, an operating rod, means for holding said rod in different positions of adjustment, and means for separately operating said clutches for the different positions of adjustment of said rod.

5. A slicing machine comprising a rotar slicing knife, a carriage adapted to be moved 

